The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1520409
JUNE/JULY 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 25 Spring Game Superlatives Some of the best of the best from the Maize team's 17-7 win over the Blue (keeping in mind the starters didn't play much): • Offensive MVP: Fredrick Moore. The wide receiver turned a short pass into a 48-yard touchdown, and he also hauled in a 28-yarder between the defensive backs. He showed off great speed and an ability to adjust his route to help his quarterback. • Defensive MVP: Jimmy Rolder. The third-year linebacker notched a sack and 2 tackles for loss among his 4 stops and — at least temporarily — eased some concern about the lack of depth at the position coming out of spring. • Most Impressive Newcomer: Cole Sullivan. The freshman linebacker made a couple nice plays on defense, including running over an offensive guard to blow up a play. The true frosh from Pittsburgh and his classmate, edge Dominic Nichols, stood out among an impressive class of early enrollees. • Most Surprising Position Group: Offensive Line. This group was without two projected starters but still got movement up front (both squads) against some outstanding defensive players. Coach Grant Newsome's first line was physical and appeared to play with very good technique, for the most part. • Biggest Question Mark: Kicking Game. Tommy Doman will be fine as the punter and kickoff artist, but kicker Adam Samaha missed a chip shot, and he was the projected No. 1. A week after the spring game, the Wolverines got some help in the portal from Arkansas State transfer Dominic Zvada, a Lou Groza Award semifinalist last year. — Chris Balas recovering from a leg injury suffered in the Rose Bowl. On the edges, junior Derrick Moore and senior Josaiah Stewart should ensure defensive end remains a strength for the Wolverines. "It's fun to watch all of them," Moore said of his defensive line. "Mason, KG [Kenneth Grant], Derrick Moore, Josaiah … and a guy that we all talked about in [end] TJ Guy. He took steps. " Yo u n gs te rs [ so p h o m o re s ] Trey Pierce, Enow Etta and Cam Brandt took steps. [Sophomore] Aymeric Koumba was fun to watch. Our true freshman, Dominic Nichols, wasn't a guy that took a step backward or stayed the same. They all improved." At linebacker, junior Ernest Hausmann returns after finishing third on the team with 46 tackles in a reserve role last year. He had an outstanding spring, per coach Brian Jean-Mary. Next to him, Mary- land transfer Jaishawn Barham seemed to turn heads daily. "When we used to play against him, I was like, 'Oh, man — we've got to play this dude again. He is a problem,'" Moore said. "They'd put him in different situa- tions — they'd pass rush him, blitz him. He's just really good. "He's shown that every day in prac- tice. He's one of the greatest kids. He's very quiet and super humble, but when he is on that field, he's a monster." Behind them, senior Jaydon Hood is a guy who "has definitely flashed and done some really good things," Moore said, adding that junior Jimmy Rolder "had a good game and played well. He's popped out and flashed." Early enrollee freshman Cole Sullivan also made some eye-opening plays. On the back end, junior corner Will Johnson is ready to be one of the best defensive backs in the country. "He's got all the ability in the world," Moore said. "He's got the mindset and does it right off the field. He's a leader — he does everything you want." Though they lost sophomore DJ Waller Jr. to Kentucky via the transfer portal in April, another sophomore — Jyaire Hill — made the most of his spring oppor- tunity. The Wolverines will look for one more corner from the portal, but Hill "has got immense talent to be as good as anybody," Moore praised. "This kid, he's got length, he's got speed, and he's got athleticism," Moore said. "He's fearless; he'll tackle. He'll go make a play on the ball. He's everything you want in a corner. He's just had a heck of a spring." At safety, grad student Makari Paige, meanwhile, stepped up in Rod Moore's (knee injury) absence and had an out- standing spring. Quinten Johnson's re- turn for a sixth year will help, too, but one of the young safeties will have to step up with Keon Sabb having exited via the portal to Alabama in February. Junior Zeke Berry should provide help there as well as nickel back. It wouldn't be fair to compare him to graduated captain Mike Sainristil, Moore said, but he loves Berry's po- tential. "Zeke Berry has had a heck of a spring," Moore said. "He showed that potential last year. He's started to put it together from a mental standpoint now, and I'm super excited for him." And for the rest of a team that still seems to have plenty of hunger to make another run in the postseason. ❑ Junior linebacker Jimmy Rolder stood out in the spring game, finishing with 1 sack and 2 tackles for loss among his 4 total tackles. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN